The R-Phils returned to First Energy Stadium beaten and battered after a 1-6 roadtrip Friday night, and proceeded to lose the first game of the homestand as well, giving them a 1-5 week since my last roundup. Domonic Brown returned to the lineup and homered, but Tyson Gillies is still out with a hand injury (thumb) and Michael Spidale is battling a sore foot. BJRosenberg remains on the DL with a right lat strain, as does Quentin Berry with an infection.
RPhils starting pitchers took all the losses this week, with Drew Naylor losing two games (one in “relief” of rehabbing big-leaguers), despite pitching reasonably well in the first, and Flande, Aumont, and Cisco all adding tallies to the wrong side of the ledger. One might be tempted to think that pitching was the R-Phils problem recently, but their team ERA actually fell almost a point on the road trip, posting a 2.37 ERA and only surrendering 15 runs on the 7-game swing. The bullpen has been reliable
It has been the R-Phils bats which have kept them in 5th place in the EL Eastern division, though. The R-Phils are hitting .232, with a .645 OPS as a team, both near the bottom of the league. They batted only .188 on the road trip, and scored only 8 runs in 7 games while being blanked three times. The R-Phils are third to last in the league in homers, and nearly last in the league in total bases. It’s fitting that the R-Phils’ only league leader offensively is Kevin Mahar, who leads the league with 5 GIDPs. In what might be the only good offensive news, CF Tyson Gillies was 5/9 in his two games prior to injuring his hand.
This weekend’s opponent is the Richmond Flying Squirrels (not kidding), and, on Monday, the R-Phils get to face #1 overall draft pick Stephen Strasburg of Harrisburg again after Strasburg held them to one bloop hit over 5 innings last Wednesday.
Sorry there’s not much more good news. The bullpen has really been the only bright spot. Ignoring Rosenberg’s injury-marred outings, the six bullpen pitchers, Stephens, Schwimer, German, Escalona, Chapman, and Stutes have allowed only 6 runs (all earned) in 42.1 IP for an overall ERA of 1.28. their peripheral stats (33 Ks to 18 BBs) are not stellar, with only German and Schwimer striking out more than one batter per IP, though.
The team has to start hitting soon–there’s too much talent not to. Gillies, Brown, and Berry are good to decent prospects, and Mahar, Bozied, Pinckney, and Spidale are all accomplished minor league vets. Maybe the weather just needs to warm up a bit–at this point, we can only hope so.
Phuture Phillies 
first time someone ever said brown is decent prospect?
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Gillies was supposed to be available to pinch hit/run last night, so I’d guess he will be back in the lineup soon. Not the best month for him so far, but I’m far from worried.
Thanks for the report Chuck
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You need a hug?
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Cosart only pitched 2.1 innings, 2 k’s, 2 ER and 0 walks.
Anyone hear anything?
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Cosart reportedly developed a blister. Pretty minor, if true.
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Brown = good prospect
Berry = decent prospect
Gillies somewhere between…thus, good to decent prospects. 🙂
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There’s a lot of talk of the AAAA players in Lehigh Valley. Reading actually has the oldest offensive squad in the Eastern League. Surprised that hasn’t translated yet into runs.
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I guess Riley Cooper will end up playing in Philadelphia after all.(maybe)
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Yogi is available. Not much interesting on the field in Lvh or Reading. Mayberry, Glavis and Brown maybe Gillies. At least Reading has some pitching. Gotta get to Lakewood SOON.
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Overbeck is on fire against lefthanded pitching 12 for 24, 5 doubles and two homers for a 1.498 ops. Still like the fact he has committed only 1 error in 16 games at third so far. As college guys he and Hyatt should be the first call ups to AA as they both will hit 24 shortly.
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Phillychuck, Thanks for the write-up. Whether Reading is good, bad or indifferent, what you do for this site is very well respected. I think it was James who pointed out that he could care less if Reading won 20 games all year; as long as the prospects show what they can do. Some will push forward towards the show and some will fail. We’ll then know what the Phils have in terms of up and comers.
When Brown was out, I looked down the box score and said who are these guys? Only prospectual (is that a word?) position player was Galvis. Pitching has shown some glimmer of hope for some prospects and wouldn’t mind seeing any of the starters. I look forward to seeing Reading in New Britain around the 4th of July. I might also be able to sneak in a game in Reading in a couple of weeks when I’m traveling.
Keep up the good work!
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I’m not patty ourselves on the back or anything, but I think Brown is better than a good prospect – he’s a very good to borderline elite prospect. To me, J.C. Ramirez is a good prospect, actually, all of the guys in the Lee trade are good prospects at this point and I think Mathieson is also a good prospect. Berry is a borderline prospect – a 5th MLB outfielder at best.
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that would be “patting” – sorry, do real work and I don’t always check spell check (PP – any chance of adding a spell checker – I’m sure it would drive John from NE to drink – like heavy grain alchohol – John, if you’re reading, I’m just joking around – that was meant to make you laugh too – I know you’re not a big computer guy).
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